Residential electrical work in the Columbia River Gorge covers a wide range of housing: older craftsmans and Victorian-era homes in Hood River, post-war houses throughout The Dalles, newer construction in the Heights and east-end subdivisions, and rural properties across both Hood River and Wasco counties. Gorge Electric handles residential electrical throughout this corridor — service calls, panel upgrades, new circuit installations, outlet and switch work, rewiring, and code corrections.
We're licensed residential electricians in Oregon, working under full liability insurance. We pull permits on work that requires them and schedule inspections without putting that burden on the homeowner.
Residential Electrical Services
Panel Upgrades and Service Changes
Upgrading an undersized or outdated electrical panel is one of the most impactful improvements a homeowner can make. Many Gorge homes still have 60-amp or 100-amp service that can't support modern loads. We install 200-amp panel upgrades throughout Hood River and The Dalles, including utility coordination and permit work.
Outlet and Switch Upgrades
Adding outlets, replacing two-prong ungrounded receptacles with grounded outlets, installing GFCI protection in kitchens and bathrooms, and USB charging outlets — these are common jobs that improve daily usability and safety. We handle these throughout the Gorge on any schedule, from a single outlet to a full room upgrade.
Circuit Additions
New appliances, home offices, EV chargers, workshop equipment, and kitchen remodels often require dedicated circuits. We run new circuits from the panel, properly sized for the load, with correct breaker sizing and wire gauge. If your panel doesn't have capacity, we'll tell you before we start.
Rewiring
Older homes in Hood River and The Dalles sometimes have knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum branch circuits, or other outdated systems that need to be replaced. We do full and partial home rewiring with minimal disruption. If you're buying a home and the inspection raised wiring concerns, we can give you an honest second opinion on what the actual scope of work is.
EV Charger Installation
Level 2 EV charger installation (240V, 50-amp circuit) is one of the most common residential electrical jobs we get called for. We handle the full installation — panel assessment, new dedicated circuit, charger mounting and wiring, permit and inspection. Most EV charger installs in Hood River and The Dalles take half a day.
Lighting and Ceiling Fans
Recessed lighting, under-cabinet lighting, ceiling fan installations, and outdoor security lighting. We also do lighting control upgrades — dimmers, smart switches, and whole-home lighting systems for homeowners who want more control.
Serving Hood River and The Dalles Homeowners
Our residential customers in Hood River tend to work on older downtown homes, vacation rentals that need reliable electrical infrastructure, and newer properties in the Heights that are adding EV chargers and smart home systems. In The Dalles, the common thread is older housing stock — homes that haven't had significant electrical updates in decades and need assessment and upgrades to meet current demands and codes.
We serve both cities equally. For emergencies, see our 24-hour emergency electrician page. For a cost overview, see our electrician cost guide.